Spring plate holder for railroad roadbed construction



April 5, 1932. G. w. MULLER 1,852,469

SBRING PLATE HOLDER FOR RAILROAD ROADBED CONSTRUCTION Filed April 15,1931 2 sheets-'Sheet 1 pril 5, 1932.. W, MULLER 1,852,469

SPRING lLATE HOLDER FOR RAILROAD .ROADBED CONSTRUCTION Filed April l5,l93l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NX ff@ fr ff. f"

Patented Apr. 5, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEv GEORGE W. MULLER, OFVIENNA, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOB TO THE BAIL JOINT COIIPANY, OF NEW YORK, N.Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK SPRING PLATE HOLDER, FOB RAILROAD ROADBEI)CONSTRUCTION Application led April 15,

This invention is directed to a spring plate designed for use inmaintaining unit connection between the tie and rail or tie, tie plateand rail in railroad track construction,

a without interfering with the necessary flexibility of the rail underthe strains of the moving train.

ll'he construction of railroad roadbeds are substantially standardized,involving as the holding element the spike driven directly into the tie,or into the tie through the tie plate, with the head of the spikeoverlying the flange ot the rail. Under the strains of heavy fast movingtrains there is a decided wave motion in the rail, incident to theleverage of the rail on the tie or tie lplate under the moving weight onthe rails between the ties. rl`his well recognized rail movement is notat all compensated for in the usual spike lo holding, with the resultthat the spikes are withdrawn to some extent, with consequent loosenessbetween rail and tie or between rail tie plate and tie. 'l hereafterthere is a continuous pounding ot the rail during train travel, withundue wear on the tie, loosening oit the latter iu the ballast, witheventual nonlevel trackage. tie displacement, and great liability ofrail spreading.

lt is well understood that the ideal condition :tor such construction isthe provision of simple means which will at all normal conditions holdthe tie and rail, together` with the tie plate, it used, as a rigidrelatively immovable unit, while vet permitting the in- 57 dependentmovement of the rail under heavy train travel. though at the same timeholding the remaining parts substantially fixed. Any means to this endmust take into con sideration the standard equipment, and must i notrequire any material change, disregarding substitution, of any standardpart.

The primar;7 object of the present invention therefore. to provide a.holding means oit the desired type in the form of a spring ""3 plate.which requires no change in standard equipment. though applied as asubstitute for the usual spilrf. and which in place will rigidly holdthe rail. tic, and tie plate, if used, as a relatively tired unit undernormal conditions while at the same time permitting, un-

1931. Serial Ro. 530,379.

der train travel stresses, the necessary movement of the rail, the veryrails movement being utilized through the form and applicatlon of thespring plate, as a means for increasing the holding e'ect of the springplate on the tie and tie plate.

A further object of the invention is the proy1sion of a spring plate,which, while maintaining its inherent advantages, lends itself tospecial forms and arrangements, to thereby permit its use in connectionwith any special form of tie plate or other equipment used in specialconstructions.

A further object is the provision of a spring plate which isparticularly designed to be positioned as a substitute for the usualspike, thereby permitting the improvement to be used in spikereplacement in old work, as well as a spike substitute in new work.

Another object is the provision of a spring plate which by maintainingunit relation between the rail, tie, and tie plate, and permittingnecessary rail movement under train load, additionally insures that anyrail movement is under gradually-increasinv resistance of the springplate, thus insuring that the rail, when free of the train stress willreturn to its normal relation to the tie and tie plate, hence avoidingany possibility of rail creeping, and the corresponding requirement ofrail-creepers locks, heretofore necessary to prevent rail creeping.

A further object is the provision of a spring plate designed to besecured to the tie by means applied as easily as the usual spike, butwhich, when applied is secure against upward displacement under usualtrain stresses, with such fasteners occupying the usual spike positionsrelative to the rail and tie plate.

The invention consists in a spring plate designed to be secured directlyto the tie, or to the tie through the usual spike opening in the tieplate, if a tie plate is used, with such plate formed to presentindependent bearing portions for the rail and tie or tie plate, thesecuring means being threaded or bolt run into the tie or tie plate andcreating suilicient initial pressure on the spring plate to hold thetie, tie plate, and rail as a unit. The Mm spring provisions of theplate permit the necessary movementl of the rail under train travel, butthe relation of the plate to the fastener is such that the tension onthe plate, 5 incident to the rail movement increases the pressure of thespring plate on the tie or tie plate, and thus more rigidly holds theseparts immovable. The rail movement is increasingly resisted by thespring plate, hence, when 10 free of the strain, the rail returns to itsnor mal relation to the tie and tie plate, and the spring plate againholds Iall parts in relatively xed relation.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a view in section, partly 1n elevation, showing one form ofspring plate, the parts being in normal relations.

Fig. 2 is a similar View, showing the rail responding to the strain oftrain travel in raising from the tie plate with consequent additionalstrain on the spring plate.

Fig. 3 is a plan of the same.

Fig. 4 is a view in section, partly in elevation, showing another formof spring plate.

Fig. 5 is a similar view, showing another form of spring plate.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the form of spring plate shown 1n Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the form of spring plate shown in Fig. 5.

In the form of spring plate shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, such plate ismade up of spring metal of appropriate thickness for the par- !5 ticularwork, and includes a plate section 1,

formed at one end with a return bend 2 to provide a toe portion 3, whichlatter is designed to overlie the base flange 4 of the rail 5. The toeportion of the plate has a termil nal section 6, shaped to bear squarelyon the rail flange, the remaining portion of the toe section beingspaced from the rail flange. The plate 1 is formed with an opening,preferably rectangular, as at 7 to receive a spring- L plate fasteningmeans, here shown in the form of a threaded member 8, designed to bethreaded into the tie 9, through the usual spike opening 10 in the tieplate 11.

Beyond the opening 7, the spring plate is formed with a bend 12, fromwhich the plate extends downwardly and inwardly toward and approachingcontact with the fastener 8, this downwardly extended portion 13 bearingon the tie or tie plate, as the case may be, and being then extendedaway from the fastener 8 as a heel portion 14, which bears directly onthe tie or tie plate. The terminal of the heel portion 14 is formed as adepending spur of appreciable width, which seats in an opening 15 in thetie plate, or, in the absence of the tie plate is forced into the tie.The spur 16 of the spring plate acts as a means for preventing turningof the tie plate in use.

l5 That portion of the spring plate at that side of the fastener `8towardthe railis ofmuch greater length than theopposite length of theplate, and is further inclined upwardly, as shown. This insures that thespring tension of that portion of the plate overlying the. rail issomewhat less than that portion overlying the tie or tie plate, thusproviding for the rail movement under a less pressure than thatnecessary to move the tie or tie plate. The fastener 8 is of coursedesigned to be seated to maintain a predetermined and fixed pressure onthe tie plate, which pressure, through the spring bearings of the vtoeand heel, is to be sufficient to hold the tie, tie plate, and railagainst relative movement under normal conditions. of the fastener isspaced well above the rail flange, and as the fastener occupies theusual spike opening, such fastener is close to the edge of the railflange. Furthermore, the plate portion 1 of the spring plate is soshaped that under normal pressure of the fastener, the plate engages thehead of the fastener at one edge only. This is indicated at 17, andprovides for utilizing the plate portion 1 as a lever under railmovement for more tightly holding the tie and tie plate to place, aswill later appear.

The relation of the parts under that rail movement responsive to traintravel is indicated in Fig. 2, from which it will be noted that themovement of the rail is sufficient to appreciably space it from the tieplate. Under these conditions the sprinff toe portion 3 permits thisrail movement upward, but in such movement the leverage of the plateportion 1 about the fulcrum 17 of Fig. 2, tends to exert a greaterpressure on the heel portion 14 of the spring plate, and thus hold thetie and tie plate fixed against movement, either as a unit orrelatively. The greater length of the forward portion of the springplate as compared with the rear portion, naturally tends to a greaterspring pressure on the tie plate and tie than on the rail, and as thisis increased under upward rail movenient, it is at once apparent thatthe tie and tie plate cannot move. As the rail moves upward at theparticular spring plate as indicated in Fig. 2, the resistance of theplate to such movement obviously increases, hence the tendency of thespring plate is to quickly return the rail into contact with the tie ortie plate, on release of train stress, and during this full movement ofthe rail and rail engaging portion of the spring plate, the pressure ofthe latter is continually increased over normal. This insures that thespring plate will maintain its grip on the rail during movement, andwill return it to normal position Without releasing this grip. The railtherefore returns to normal relation to the tie or tie plate, and thespring plate resumes its normal function of holding all parts againstrelative movement.

The head v lill tti

In the form shown in plate is o a somewhat erent form, including a plateportion 1S, havin a return bend 19 at one end and projected vond orbelow such bend to form a toe portion 20. 'The latter has a terminal 21to bear on the base flange 22 of the rail 23, the remaining portion ofthe toe rtion being spaced from the rail flange. T e plate is formed atsub stantially its mid length with an opening 24 to receive a fastener25, similar to fastener 8 of the first form, which is designed to bepassed through the usual spike opening 26 of the tie plate 27, and isthreaded into the tie 28.

Beyond the fastener opening 24, the spring late is projected downwardlyand outwar ly as at 29, and formed with a return bend 30 to provide ashort heel portion 3l, terminating in a spur 32, to seat in an opening33 in the tie plate, or to be driven into the tie in the absence of thetie plate. The relation of the plate 18 and the head of the fastener 25is similar to the first form providing for a lever action of the plate18 under rail movement. The spur 32 acts to prevent turning movement ofthe spring plate, and the fastener holds the parts under the springtension of the plate with sufficient torce to maintain the rail, tie,and tie plate against relative movement, While ot' course permitting thenecessary rail movement under train travel.

ln this form the rail movement upward tends to materially increase thepressure on the heel portion 31. and through the latter on the tie plateand tie.

i, 4, the spring ln the form shown in Fig. 5, the spring plate is of astill differentform, and includes a plate portion 3ft, formed at one endwith a return bend 35, projected to form a spring toe portion 3G,terminally bearing on the base flange 37 of a rail 38, and beingotherwise spaced from such flange. The opposite end oi the plate portionis formed with a return bend 39estendcd beneath the plate portion in theform of a heel 40, which extends to- Ward the toe portion. Afastener-receiving opening is formed in both the plate portion 3d andheel portion 40, the fastener 4l in thisinstance being identical withthe fasteners previously described. but passing through both the plateportion and heel portion and taking through a special opening 42 in thetie plate 43 and being threaded into the tie del. 'lhe heel portion 40extends into close proximity with the edge of the rail flange 37, isformed with a depending lug 45, and is interlocked against turning byengagement of such lug into the usual spike hole 46 in the tie plate.

rl`l1e relation ofthe head of the fastener and oi the plate portion 3ftprovides for the previously-described lever action of the plate portionin the movement of the spring plate under rail movement, hence theincreased holding etect of the spring plate on the tie and tie plate,under this rail upward movement, is also an inherent detail of thisparticular form. As that portion of plate beyond the fastener toward therail is of greater length than the opposite portion, it follows that thespring resistance of the rail contacting portion of the spring plate isless than that of the tie plate contacting portion. Thus under railmovement, the spring resistance of the toe portion not only permits suchportion to yield under a pressure which, will not disturb the holdingcontact of the heel portion, but increases such heel pressure throughthe leverage provided. The passage of the fastener through two lengthsof the spring plate insures rigidity of the tieplate and the tie holdingContact, so that under no circumstances of normal conditions will thetie plate or tie be permitted to move relative to each other.

In all forms the spring plate acts to hold the rail, tie plate and tiein relatively fixed relation under absence of train travel, and undertrain travel permits the incidental rail movement under increasingspring resistance of the spring plate, While at the same time increasingthe holding contact of the spring plate on the tie and tie plate. Thusthe tie and tie plate are not permitted movement under normalconditions, and this holding contact is materially increased underupward rail movement incident to train travel. The normal pressure onthe rail is su'liicient to hold the rail in the absence of train stress,and under train stress this hold effect on the rail is increased,thereby insuring that the rail is in effect gripped by this springpressure, and is compelled, on cessation of train stress to return toits original relation to the tie plate and tie. Thus any possibility ofrail creeping is prevented.

The fasteners employed, being threaded into the tie and underthetensionofthe spring plate when in place, will he thus protected against shocksand jars tending to upwardly or laterally dislodge the fastener, andthis presents an important advantage over the usual spike. The relativelooseness of the rail, tie plate and tie under the usual spike holdingwhen subjected to train stresses permits a continual pounding of therail and tie plate on the tie, and this most expensive detail of roadbedconstruction is rapidly Worn, and under the incident vibration soondisplaced or so loosened in the ballast that the entire track level anduniformity is lost. This is the reason for the high maintenance cost oftrackage, and as the improved spring plate entirely obviates anyrelative movement of the tie and tie plate, this important item ofexpense is so materiallv reduced as to become comparatively negligible.

A further obvious advantage of the imthe spring ,u

proved spring plate is that fact that it is a substitution ofthe usualspike, thus enabling A it to be used in repair of old work, as well asin new installations.

'hal is rlanued as new.1s:- Y

1. The combination with a rail` a tie plate,

and a. tie, of a spring plate including a plate posite length of theplaie portion being ofless length and turned downwardly and inwai-dl)toward the fastener, and then pro- I jected outwardly relative to thefastener to provide a heel portion to bear on the tie plate.

f2. The combination with a rail. a tie plate, and atie. of a springplate including a plate portion formed with a fastener opening dividingthe plate portion into unequal lengths, a fastener secured to the. tieand passing through the opening to maintain a predetermined pressure onthe plat-e portion, that portion of the plate of greater length heiligformed with an underlying toe portion for bearin g Contact ou the baseflange of the rail. that portion of the plate of less length beingformed to provide. an outstanding heel portion to bear on the tie plate,and a spur on the heel portion to interlock with the tie plate toprevent turning of the spring plate in use.

3. The combination with a rail, a tie plate. aufl a tie. of a springplate including a plate portion formed with a fastener opening, afastener passed through said opening and taking into the tie, one partof the plate portion being formed with an underlying toe portion to bearon the base flange of the rail` the remaining part of the plate portionbeing projected outwardlj7 and downwardly relati\ e to the fastener andterminally formed to provide a relatively short heel portion for bearingContact on the tie plate.

4. The combination with a rail, a tie plate` and a tie. of a springplate formed at one end with a spring toe portion to bear on the baseflange of the rail. the opposite end of the plate being formed with anunderlying heel portion to bear on the tie. plate. the spring platehaving a fastener opening at about its midlength a fastener passingthrough said opening and taking into the tie` said fastener maintaininga const-ant pressure on the toe and heel. the terminal of the heel beingi formed for interlocking with the tie at a point immediately adjacentthe edge of the rail flange to prevent turning of the spring plate inuse.

The combination with a rail, a tie plate and a tie, of a spring platepresenting a relatively broad bearing face, .a fastening member passedthrough said face, through the tie plate, and removably engaging thetie, said spring plate at one end of the bearing face being formed as areturn bend to overlie the base flange 'of the rail and free of contacttherewith, the free terminal of the return .and the tie plate engagingface being subtantially in contact with the fastening memzer.

(3. The combination with a rail, a tie plate and a tie, of a springplate presenting a relatively broad bearing face, a fastening memberpassed through said face, through the tie plate, and removably engagingthetie, said spring plat-e at one end of the bearing face being formedas a return bend to overlie the base flange of the rail and free ofcontact therewith, the. free terminal of the return bend underlying the`bearing face adjacent the fastening member and having bearing Contactwith the base flange of the rail adjacent the free edge thereof, theopposite endof the bearing face being projected downwardlyv and inclinedtoward the fastening member and then outwardlyto provide a broad bearingface to overlie the tie plate, the'juncture of the downwardly projectedportion and the tie plate engaging face being substantially in Contactwith the fastening member, the length of the bearing face beyond thefastening member toward the return bend end being materially greaterthan the opposite end.

7. I he combination with a rail, a tie plate and a. tie, of a. springplate presenting a relatively broad bearing face, a fastening memberpassed through said face, through the tie plate, and removably engagingthe tie, said spring plate at one end of the bearing face being formedas a return bend to overlie the base flange of the rail and free ofContact therewith, the free terminal of the return bend underlying thebearing face adjacent the fastening member and having bearing contactwith the base flange of the rail adj acent the free edge thereof, theopposite end of the bearing face being projected downwardly and inclinedtoward the fastening member and then outwardly to provide a broadbearing face to overlie. the, tie plate, the juncture of the downwardlyprojected portion and the tie plate engaging face being substantially incontact with the fastening member, and means for interlocking one end ofthe spring plate with the tie plate.

lillll hill pesares d. ln combination with a rail, tie plate and tie, aspring plate, a headed fastener passing throu 'h the spring plate andhaving its head space directly above the rail base, said :fastenerentering the tie said spring platg haring a return bend to erin anunderlying spring section to bear on the rail base, the plate in onedirection beyond the fastener' haring direct bearing on the tie plateand provided with a projection formed as a pendent element of the tieplate engaging portion.

lin combination with a rail, tie plate and tie, a spring plate, afastener extending `through the spring plate and tie plate and enteringthe tie, said fastener having a head spaced directly above the railbase, the spring plate being formed with a return bend to provide a.spring terminal to b ear onthe rail base, said plate haring a section tobear directly on the tie plate, said spring plate havina integral meansto prevent said plate from shifting out of a position transversely ofthe rail..

lll. lu combination with a. rail, tie plate and tie, a spring plate,and. a fastener passing through the spring plate and through the tieplate and having a head spaced directly above the upper surface oit thebase of the rail, the spring plate being formed with a return bendprovide a spring terminal to overlie the hase of the rail and contacttherewith adjacent the free edge thereof, said spring plate having arelatively broad direct bearing on he tie plate and being in directContact With the underside of the head of the fastener.

ll. lin combination With a rail, tie plate and tie, a spring plate, anda fastener passing through the spring plate and through the tie plate,said spring plate having a yielding rail base bearing formed by a returnbend at one end of the plate "with the free terminal of auch bendbearing on the rail base, said spring plate having an outwardlyextending portion bearing directly on the tie plate with such portionterminating in a projection to seat in an opening formed in the tieplate.

l2. lin combination With a rail, tie plate and tie, a spring plate, anda fastener passing through the" spring plate and through the tie plateand having a head spaced above the base of the rail, the spring platehaving yielding rail base bearing, tie plate bearing and tie bearingmembers and itself being in bearing contact with the head of thefastener, the `tie bearing member consisting of a loop connecting springarms and extended beyond the body plate to constitute a bearing member.

13. lin combination with the rail, tie plate and tie, a spring plate,and a fastener passing through the spring plate and through the tieplate and having a. head arranged above the base of the rail, the springplate having a return bend to overlie the rail base with the terminal ofsuch bend providing a spring-bearing contact with the rail base, saidspring plat-e having a tie plate bearing portion extended toward therail base and engaged by the fastener, said tie plate engaging portionhaving interlocking coope -ation with the tie plate.

14. 'llie combination with a ralroad'rail and a. supporting membertherefor, of a spring plate having spring bearing on the rail and on thesupporting member, that por-- tion of the plate cooperating with therail haring contact with the rail adjacent the free edge of the railflange and projecting inwardly free of such rail flange toward the Webof the rail, that portion of the plato bearing on the supporting memberpresenting a broad, relatively flat contact with such member. and meansfor removably securing the spring plate to the supporting member.

l5. ln combination with a railroad rail and a supporting membertherefor, a spring plate presenting a relatively flat bearing faceformed at one end in a return bend, with the i free terminal of suchbend designed for spring contact with the base flange of the railadjacent the edge thereof, the return bend projecting toward the web ofthe rail free of contact with the base flange, the opposite end of theflat face of the plate being directed downwardly and terminating in anoutwardly directed part for Contact with the supporting member, and afastening means directed through the flat face and taking into thesupporting member.

16. ln combination with a railroad rail and a. supporting membertherefor, a spring plate presenting a relatively flat bearing faceformed at one end in a return bend, with the free terminal of such bendhaving spring Contact with the base flange of the rail adjacent the edgethereof, the return bend projecting toward the Web of the rail free ofthe flange, the opposite end of the flat face of the plate beingdirected downwardly and terminating in a relatively broad area forcontact with the supporting member, and a fastening means directedthrough the flat face and taking into the supporting member, saidfastening means passing through that portion of the plate bearingdirectly on the supporting member.

17. The combination with a railroad rail and a supjiiorting membertherefor, of a spring plate presenting a relatively flat face, unitingmeans passed through said face and taking into the supporting member,the spring plate in one direction beyond the uniting means being formedas a return bend with the terminal projecting toward the unitingr meansand in Contact with the base flange of the rail, the full length of thereturn bend extending toward the web normally free of contact with theflange of the rail, the opposite end of the spring plate being projectedlll) downwardly toward the supporting member and then outwardly toprovide a broad bearing face for engagement with the supporting member,the formation of the return bend portion of the plate providing an area,of greater relative resiliency overlying the base flange of the rail.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE W. MULLER.

